Differences in the vertical distribution of plant material within swards continuously stocked with cattle

A mosaic of short, frequently grazed areas and tall, infrequently grazed areas is a characteristic of swards continuously stocked with cattle. Inclined point quadrat measurements were used to compare sward structure on the frequently and infrequently grazed areas in an experiment on mixed grass/clover swards with beef cattle, in which the swards were maintained at overall mean rising-plate target heights of 3·0, 5·5 or 7·0 cm. The results demonstrate large within treatment differences in the vertical distribution of plant parts between the frequently and infrequently grazed areas, and smaller differences within these areas between treatments. The consequences of these observations and the need for greater effort in recording the detailed structure within these areas in grazing experiments is noted.